If you’re a hunter, you know that the most important tools on your crossbow are the scope and the arrows… and a crossbow is only as good as its scope.
Ideally, you want a scope that is lightweight, manoeuvrable, easy to store, easy to use, and you definitely want one that will increase your accuracy and kill your prey.
There are dozens of scopes on the market today, but if you find yourself in the market for one, you’ll want to check out these ones.
Designed specifically for crossbows, these scopes offer all of the features and benefits of the top name brands, at a fraction of the cost.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| UTG 4X32 1" Crossbow Scope | Best Overall |  |
| TRUGLO Red-Dot Crossbow 30Mm 3-Dot Sight | Budget Pick |  |
| TRUGLO Crossbow 4X32 Compact Scope w/Rings | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. UTG 4X32 1" Crossbow Scope
Pros:
- 1-minute windage and elevation adjustments
- Built-in Check rest
- 7-color red /green/blue/white/orange/purple/ red
- Rubber sunshade
- 30mm objective lens
- High quality
- The best crossbow scope
UTG is a specialized company making rifle scopes and weapon accessories, including one of the most popular crossbow scopes on the market.
This crossbow scope has a 1-minute-of-angle click adjustment, with a 5-step reticle that’s red, green, blue, white, orange, purple and then two green for maximum visibility.
It comes with one sunshade for the objective lens, and windage and elevation adjustment at 1-minute-of-angle clicks. It also comes with a Picatinny-style mounting system, with 4 inches of eye relief.
2. TRUGLO Crossbow 4X32 Compact Scope w/Rings
Pros:
- Adjustable for windage and elevation
- 4×32 compact crossbow scope
- ultra-light
- Quality is great for the price
- DiamondCoat 2 coating to increase durability
- Powerful scope for hunting in low-light conditions
In my opinion, the best crossbow scope is the TRUGLO Crossbow 4X32 Compact Scope w/Rings. It’s designed for high-velocity crossbows and works well with black and carbon arrows, too.
The scope provides illumination for low-light hunting conditions with its multi-coated optics. It’s shockproof as well as fogproof, and it is nitrogen-filled to prevent any internal fogging. The scope is also waterproof, so if you accidentally flood your bow with rainwater, don’t worry!
Its build quality is amazing for the price range and definitely worth the value. The scope is ergonomic and lightweight and really easy to mount.
3. TRUGLO Red-Dot Crossbow 30Mm 3-Dot Sight
Pros:
- Reduces the time it takes to acquire and get a sight in on your target
- Able to effectively gauge distance
- Dot magnifies and reduces at the same time
- Can be customized to get easier adjustments without guesswork
- Good value for the price
- Fit on different bow limb notches
- Easy to zero in
- Long-lasting
- Well made
- Easy to adjust
Cons:
- Zero can be tough – will need to be bought up during the process
- The illumination is a little dim
- Slight wings on the sight can build up on the fabric of the arrow rest
- Doesn’t work well with drop targets
The TRUGLO Red-Dot Crossbow 30Mm 3-Dot sight has numerous outstanding features, however, a top one is being able to magnify and reduce. The red dot sight provides quite a lot of help when it comes to aiming arrows at the target.
The optics have a good light gathering ability, which helps you get a good shot of the object. Using this sight is quite simple. There is a multi-reticle system that allows you to quickly switch between the red dot and the three different dots depending on the environment and situation you are in.
4. Trophy Ridge Speed Comp XV525IR Crossbow Scope
We love the Trophys Ridge Speed Comp XV525IR because it’s a fast scope, which has clear optics and a multi-reticle (it has four, just in case). The speed compensating option means that it’ll feature both a first focal plane and a second.
The price may be a bit high, but when you consider the features this scope has, it’s well worth it. This scope is not like your usual hunting scope. It’s got all the bells and whistles, like a built-in rangefinder, transducer, a one-handed drop away mount, and a built-in light that you can reload with a new battery if the original dies.
When the scope is set to the second focal plane, it’s between four-16X magnification. On the other hand, in first focal plane, it’ll shoot between 20-60X.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best crossbow scope on the market?
There is a lot of confusion over which scope to buy for your crossbow. New crossbow owners don't understand the scope mounts and what they mean.
The type of crossbow you buy is not the only factor to consider when choosing your scope. These three factors- the type of bow, the kind of shooting you will be doing, and how far away you intend to shoot- will all affect your choice.
Here is our overview on the best crossbow scopes. We discuss the different products in reference to these factors and give our expert opinions on the best on the market.
What is the best crossbow for 2022?
Whether you are new to the world of crossbow hunting or an experienced veteran, you will need to pick the best crossbow for your needs. Choosing the best crossbow for your specific needs in an involved decision and we will outline some of the things you need to think about when making your selection in this section. While you can always jump straight to our recommendations, we think it’s worthwhile to familiarize yourself with the other things you need to think about when getting a crossbow and what to expect from the recommendations.
Viewing Distance:
Crossbows have the longest effective range of any weapon used during hunting. The average effective range is about 150 yards with upper end models extending to more than 200 yards. The main limitation is the visibility distance, which is a function of shooter size, strength, and lens size. In order to reliably hit targets in excess of 150 yards away, you will require a scope and quality optics.
Can you use any scope on a crossbow?
The general rule is no. You can't attach any rifle scope to a crossbow. If you do, you're asking for one thing, a ruined scope. The reason why has to do with the trajectory of, not just a crossbow, but every bow.
Before we talk about trajectory, let's examine a rifle scope. At the front of the scope is the lens or objective lens. This is the lens that your target image is viewed through. At the rear is the ocular lens or eyepiece lens. This is the lens that your eye sees through. Both provide a magnified image of the target.
When you mount a rifle scope to a rifle, you mount the entire assembly of the scope to the rifle. So you move the objective lens to the rear of the rifle and the ocular lens remains in front of the rifle. On a rifle, both the ocular and objective lenses are very close in distance.
Is Ravin crossbow worth the money?
If you’re looking for a high quality crossbow scope that won’t break the bank, then check out our Ravin Crossbow Scope Review. Ravin has designed a scope with all the features high-end buyers are looking for at a fraction of the cost. The level of quality and user-friendliness they’ve managed to pack into this scope make it an impressive offering for the price.
Conclusion
Crossbows are incredible weapons with a few drawbacks that make them less popular than compound bows. One of the main problems for crossbow users is not being able to see very far while they’re prepping to fire. This is where a good scope can make a huge difference. In this article, we’re going to talk about why you should use a crossbow scope and which ones are the best on the market.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| UTG 4X32 1" Crossbow Scope | Best Overall | |
| TRUGLO Red-Dot Crossbow 30Mm 3-Dot Sight | Budget Pick | |
| TRUGLO Crossbow 4X32 Compact Scope w/Rings | Upgrade Pick | |